Benteng Pendem Ambarawa

Fort Wilem I or Pendem Ambarawa

Central Java, Indonesian

Ambarawa is a part of Central Java, Indonesia. In this Place have a Fort the name is Fort Willem or Pendem Ambarawa, which was built in the year 1834 to 1845 by the Dutch East Indies goverment, under the leadership of Colonel Hoom. “Pendem” is originated from language Javanese because this Fortress is located underground. Design by Fort Pendem Ambarawa shaped rectangles are strikedly two floors.

Williem fort is the largest fort in Java, this place is used as a military complex capable of carrying 12,000 troops and various supporting facilities, such as armory, workshop, training ground, and hospital. It took around 18 years to build this fort. The construction of the Ambarawa fort was based on the construction of VOC strongholds since the early nineteenth century, along the Semarang-Salatiga-Solo route for the development of relations with the kingdom of Mataram. Also in 1827 - 1830 there were military barracks and logistics under the leadership of Colonel Horn.

In 1834 the fortress Fort Willem I was built with the approval of the Governor General of the Dutch Hindio J.C. Baud The process of building this fort using a mandatory work system. The workers are mostly from Ambarawa and Temanggung. They are forced to work for 10 days and pay 10 cents a day. this was what later received opposition from the Temanggung Sumodilogo Regent who was supported by the Kedu Resident, Von Hogendrop.

The initial purpose of the establishment of this fort was as a military barracks and military logistics storage, but in its development the fort was later used as a defense facility equipped with a moat surrounding it as a preparation in the war against the sultanate of Yogyakarta. The construction of this fort was completed in 1848 which was later given the name Fort Cochius which was taken from the name of Lieutenant General Frans David Cochius commander in the Dutch East Indies who led the Dutch troops during the Diponegoro war in 1825. However, in 1856 fort Cochius fort became a pupillenschool for children European children who were born in the Dutch East Indies and turned into Fort Willem I or Ambarawa Pendem Fort.